Jack DeWaele '24 Recruiting Profile

Hello Coaches, My name is Jack DeWaele and I live in Clinton Township, Mi. I attend Chippewa Valley High School and have just started my senior year. My athletic journey is probably a little different than most track athletes. I grew up loving and playing football, basketball & baseball. I thought I was going to be a high school baseball pitcher, but as I got older, I discovered that I had an aptitude / love for distance running. Whenever I ran in any practice or participated in any training camp, I always came in first when it came to running laps. Not only was I first but I was also never wore out. So when I was in the 8^th grade, I decided to start running in 5k’s,  just to see how I would do. In my first 5k (Anchor Bay Jingle Bell Run - Dec 2019), I ran a 22:45 and took 3^rd in my age group. At that moment, I started to believe that I had what it took to be a really good distance runner.

So for the past three/four years, I’ve been running at the varsity level in both cross country and track & field (1600m, 3200m, 4x800m relay, 800m) for my high school. I also run for a club team called 16 Ways. My freshman year was a lot about learning the sports. I was fortunate to earn varsity letters in both XC and T&F but I knew I could do more. The summer before my sophomore season, I started to get heavy into distance running training and the work has paid off. As an XC runner my sophomore year, I posted a PR of 17:50 and was a 2^nd team all MAC White conference runner. I was also 5 seconds away from qualifying for the all-county team. Disappointed but not defeated, I focused on my winter training and was in great shape for track season. I had 2 first place finishes in the 3200m, I had 4 second place finishes and a 3^rd place finish (1600m & 3200m) during my sophomore season. In the MAC RED championships, I took 2^nd in the 3200m. I also qualified for New Balance Invitational and posted a PR 10:13 in the 3200m. In the Macomb County regional, I placed 8^th in the 1600m with a 4:48 and 11^th in the 3200m with a 10:21. As my junior year approached, I was more focused than ever. In cross-country, I was 1st team all MAC White conf, 3rd team All Macomb County but missed the regional/state qualifier by one spot (I finished 16th). Finishing 16th and missing states by one spot was tough but I focused again on my off-season training and came into my outdoor T&F season in great shape. Junior year was pretty good. I qualified for the Barnyard Invitational and in the 1600m, I took 2nd in the early sessions with a 4:34.22. I raced at the Oakland Elain Leigh Invite and took 3rd in the 3200m with a 9:54.57 (that was the first time I broke the 10min mark). I competed in the Farmington Invitational and ran in the Elite session of the 3200m where I posted a 9:41.26. At the MAC Conf Championships, I ran only in the 1600m but took 1st overall with a 4:35.48. At my MHSAA Regional race, I broke my schools 3200m record, that had stood for 36 years, by running a 9:32.44. That time also qualified me for the state championships. Prior to the state meet, I ran in the 1600m at the Macomb County Championships and ran my schools 5th fastest 1600m with a 4:31.3. At the state meet, I ran a 9:57.76 and finally, I competed in the MITCA Michigan Champions of Champions T&F festival where I posted a 9:48.81 in the 3200m. That was my 3rd fastest 3200m time that season. Didn't accomplish all my goals by got lots done during my junior year. My senior year for XC was a good one. I accomplished almost all my goals. I was 1st team All-MAC White Conf, I was the MAC White Conf champ, I was 2nd team All-Macomb County, I was 2nd team All-Region, and I qualified for the Michigan state meet. I didn't break the school record but I did run a PR 16:08 at the conference meet.

My goals for my Senior year of track are to qualify for the Division 1 Michigan State Finals gain in the 3200m. I also believe I have it in me to break my school record again in the 3200m. Long term goals, I would like to earn a scholarship and run in college where I plan to study a business discipline (marketing, business mgmt, etc.). I believe I have the work ethic, attitude and desire to participate at the college level. I just need that chance.  

Thank you for taking this time to read my bio and learning a little bit about my background.